I have been lurking on this board as a guest for the better part of 6 months and have decided to post some of my thoughts.
Though no fan of Chip, I found his letter to have some good points. We have, time and time again, been promised and assured that we'd have a contract and Nicolau would be nothing more than a bad memory. We've given up a great deal of pay and continued to work under LOA 93 hoping that this "investment" would pay off for us in the long run. It seems though, that we've moved ever further away from the promises USAPA has made with no hope of improvement any time soon. I don't believe we'll see any of the promised pay snapbacks that USAPA thinks we're going to get. I watched those videos on youTube and now see our pilots sitting there with nothing more that poker faces knowing they're holding unsuited low cards. It's all been nothing but bluster and bluff.
So where does this leave us? Further away than from where we started and with NOTHING to show for our dues money.
And now I read of strike talks after each and every one of USAPA's strategies have been systematically disassemble by the west's attorneys. This talk of now striking the company proves how desperate things have gotten over here and how correct Chip may be in what he wrote.
I hate to admit it, but its over for me. I won't even call it a good fight because it wasn't. I see it now as nothing more that a transfer of our dues to Seham and his firm and nothing more. And I have also been told that our money situation is becoming critical as well.
This madness needs to stop and it has for me. I will not strike. I will not wear my badge-backer, and I will terminate my membership with USAPA.
They have done nothing for us and I don't see them doing anything more than harming the entire group for the benefit of a small group. When the next trial comes in Sept(?) for damages, I see nothing but more dues money going into Seham's pockets and to the west.
CLT
Flame away as this will be my only post. I don't have the think skin Chip has.